The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-05-14

when the diligencia rolled out OF Iopo-
so. found myself the only passenger.
had a ride Of forty miles before me
to the City of Mexico. and the prospect
OF making the trip alone did not suit
me. The driver of the dilligencia, one
Gil Perez. had villanous face, n face
suggestive of treason, strategems. and
spoils. and every time il was turned in
my direction / instinctively felt under
the seat to see If my valise was still
there.
My valisc was fully worthy of this at
tention on my part. II contained $lO,-
coo in gold, the result Of my collecting
trip to Toboso. undertaken in the in
terest of wealthy American client at
the Capital.
Theinterior Of the vehicle was capa-
bic of accommodating six or eight per-
sons. and longed for fellow-passen-
ger
We had not left the outskirts of the
town fairly behind us, when the lum
bering old coach was brought to a
sudden standstill, the four horses
throwing themselves into a line across
the road, with the evident intention Of
taking to the woods.
"Carrajor' howled Gil Perez from
his lofty perch rs he gave his whip a
vicious crack. Thou devil of a
Sancho. will cut out thy heart and
liver; and as for thee. Perdita, l will
Day thee aliver'
laughed. When the driver talked
In this fashion TO his beasts he was in
good humor. His lusty oaths and
trightful threats counted for nothing
The cause of our halt was soon ex-
planned. Two young women had
signaled Gil Perez TO stop. One Of
them was Immediately bundled into the
vehicle by her companion and the
driver. IL seemed to me that some
bird Of the tropics, with an oycrpow-
ering glitter Of gorgeous plumagc, had
swooped down upon me, and l
naturally looked out of the window
until could think of something to say.
1t struck me that the new passen-
gers maid. for such the young woman
outside appeared to be, was very
picturesque affair She had rich
complexion, with fine black eyes. and
her hair, arranged in long, glossy
plat hung down nearly 10 her heels.
Her head, neck, and shoulders were
perfectly bare, and her only garments
were "A oose-ftting white cotton tunic
and petticoat of red and blue reach
ing 10 her knees. She gave me saucy
look, and kissed her hand to her
mistress. keeping up a lively chatter
all the time.
After the driver had slowed away
the light baggage of the senorita, as he
called her, aid n parting adios had
been exchanged between the lady and
the airy-looking young woman who
was to be left behind, the diligencia
started, and was soon rumbling on its
way.
Under the circumstances IL was i'm
possible for me TO 60 on looking at the
landscape forever. 1t was clearly my
duty TO make myself agreeable TO the
senorita.
The task did not appear nc all I'M
pleasant TO me after had furtively sur
veyed the situation out OF the tail Of my
eve. If an excuse for opening n con
versation had been lacking, Gil Perez
was polite enough 10 supply IT,
"The senior will be delighted "a
know he said, with flourish, "that
the senorita will honor us with her
company all the way TO the city"
managed in rather crippled Spanish
10 express my almost delirious pleasure,
and wound up by saying that | had
been In state of utter gloom and
despair over my solitary journey.
To my surprise the senorita replied
In excellent English. and said that sh,
was overjoyed to have an American fol
fcllow-traveler.
IL like the Americans she said,
"thcv arc. wha: do you cal Il? Nice
think. is the word. Yes, they are Sc
nice.
Talks like one Of our boarding
school misses, said TO myself, AND
then | made some suitable reply.
There was no question about t.
The Senorita was pretty. Tall as q
daughter of the gods, with midnight
hair and eyes, harmonizing well with
her brunei complexion, she was what
callod Immersed as was nv her COS